It was announced last week that ballroom dancer Kym Johnson would be skipping U.S. version of Dancing With the Stars season 17 this year "to accept an amazing opportunity back in Australia" and this week it has been confirmed that the she will be joining the show's Australian version as a judge.
The announcement came Aug. 25, when she tweeted, "So excited to share with you my new project, I will be a judge on DWTS Australia #istillcallaustraliahome."
Johnson has been with America's Dancing with the Stars since season 3 and will surely be missed when the cast (yet to be revealed) and judges return for season 17 on September 17. She has confirmed, however, that she will be returning to the show's 18<sup>th season next year.
Johnson, 37, won the mirrorball trophy twice with partners Donny Osmond and Hines Ward.
The full lineup and cast list for Dancing with the Stars season 17 will be revealed live on ABC's Good Morning America on September 4.
Rumors state that dancers returning to the show are Cheryl Burke, Peta Murgatroyd, Karina Smirnoff, Lindsay Arnold, Emma Slater, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, Val Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani.
Other names rumored to be joining this year's show include Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, former baseball player Jason Varitek, Fullhouse star John Stamos, and actor Seth MacFarlane.
Reality star Farrah Abraham recently told Enstars that viewers will "find out this week" whether she will be joining the cast list.
Last year, Derek Hough and celebrity partner Kellie Pickler won the mirrorball trophy in May 2013.
